Abstract
The system synthesis problem is viewed as a combinatorial problem in which the best combination of subsystems is searched among all the possible combinations. However, as the number of subsystems increases, the problem will become too complex to solve. Structure variable approach makes it possible to transform a combinatorial problem into a usual variational calculus problem.A gradient method for attaining the optimal structure is proposed by employing structure variables. In order to show how the proposed method works, we have applied it to the optimal synthesis of an inventory and transportation system.
